Apparatus and method for measuring capacity of battery cell

Abstract

The present technology relates to an apparatus for measuring a capacity of a battery cell, and a method of measuring a capacity of a battery cell. The apparatus includes: a jig configured to have a battery cell mounted thereon and press the battery cell from both surfaces; a charge/discharge unit configured to be connected to the battery cell; and a charge/discharge chamber configured to accommodate the jig and the battery cell, wherein a thermoelectric element for adjusting a temperature of the battery cell is formed on an external surface of the jig.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for measuring a capacity of a battery cell, the apparatus comprising:
 a jig configured to have the battery cell mounted thereon and press the battery cell from both surfaces; 
 a chamber configured to accommodate the jig and the battery cell; 
 a thermoelectric element for adjusting a temperature of the battery cell disposed on an external surface of the jig such that the thermoelectric element is configured to overlap the battery cell from a first end of the battery cell to a second end of the battery cell entirely and continuously; 
 a chiller configured to absorb heat discharged from the thermoelectric element, the chiller including:
 a refrigerant supply source at an external side of the chamber; and 
 a cooling plate connected to the refrigerant supply source at an inside of the chamber, and contacting an external surface of the thermoelectric element; and 
 
 a charge/discharge unit configured to be connected to the battery cell via the first end or the second end. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the jig includes:
 a lower plate on which the battery cell is configured to be placed; and 
 an upper plate configured to press the battery cell from an upper portion, 
 wherein the thermoelectric element has a plate shape contacting at least one of a lower surface of the lower plate and an upper surface of the upper plate. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the lower plate and the upper plate include a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum and iron. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric element is configured to overlap the battery cell from a first end of the battery cell to a second end of the battery cell without any gap in between. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the lower plate is configured to overlap the battery cell from a first end of the battery cell to a second end of the battery cell gaplessly and entirely. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature control unit configured to control operation of the chiller, a temperature of air inside the charge/discharge unit, and the temperature of the chamber and the thermoelectric element. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor inside the chamber and disposed to be adjacent to the battery cell. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a controller configured to control operation of the temperature control unit and the charge/discharge unit and calculate a capacity of the battery cell. 
     
     
       9. A method of measuring a capacity of a battery cell by using the apparatus according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 mounting the battery cell on the jig accommodated in the chamber; 
 setting a temperature of the thermoelectric element to allow the battery cell reach a target temperature; and 
 charging and discharging the battery cell having reached the target temperature and measuring a capacity of the battery cell therefrom. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the temperature of the thermoelectric element is set to be in a temperature range greater than the target temperature by 1 to 10° C. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the target temperature is a room temperature. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising charging and discharging the battery cell at a predetermined temperature before the setting of the temperature of the thermoelectric element. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising setting the temperature of the thermoelectric element to allow the temperature of the battery cell reach a temperature in a range that is different from that of the target temperature, and charging and discharging the battery cell. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is configured to be closed and sealed. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the thermoelectric element contacts both the lower surface of the lower plate and the upper surface of the upper plate. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling plate directly contacts the external surface of the thermoelectric element. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the temperature of the thermoelectric element is set to be in a temperature range greater than the target temperature by 3 to 7° C. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , wherein an internal temperature of the chamber is lower than the target temperature.